Angulo v. Super. Ct.

California Court of Appeal·Decided September 16, 2025·No. E085719·Published

Opinion

Filed 9/16/25

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION TWO

JULIO CESAR ANGULO, Petitioner, E085719 v. (Super.Ct.No. APRI2400121)

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF OPINION RIVERSIDE COUNTY,

Respondent;

THE PEOPLE, Real Parties in Interest.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. Samuel Diaz, Jr., Judge. Petition granted.

Law Offices of Shaffer Cormell, Shaffer Cormell and Miles Booth for Petitioner.

No appearance for Respondent.

Michael A. Hestrin, District Attorney, Robert Driessen, Deputy District Attorney for Real Party in Interest.

Petitioner Julio Cesar Angulo (defendant) was charged by Real Party in Interest Riverside County District Attorney’s office (the People) with misdemeanor driving under the influence pursuant to Vehicle Code sections 23152, subdivisions (a) and (b). Defendant entered a not-guilty plea and requested military diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.80. Defendant had been an active member of the United States Marine Corps for five months and his counsel represented that he had served five years in the Marine Corps Reserve. The trial court denied defendant’s request finding that he had not served the threshold of active duty for one year or one day of combat to qualify for military diversion. The trial court relied on the Legislature’s intent in enacting Penal Code section 1001.80 and the “Memorandum of Understanding” from the Riverside County Veteran Treatment Center (hereinafter MOU), to deny defendant’s request for pretrial diversion.

Defendant filed a writ of mandate in the appellate department of the superior court. The People conceded that Penal Code section 1001.80 did not have a one-year requirement of military service to be eligible for diversion. The superior court issued a decision, which it sought to publish, finding that Penal Code section 1001.80 does not contain any time limit for military service and remanded to the trial court for it to reconsider the denial of diversion. The superior court opinion also held that defendant was not entitled to pretrial diversion as a matter of law, but rather, if the trial court found defendant was eligible, the trial court had the discretion to consider whether he was suitable for diversion.

After the appellate department of the superior court filed its opinion,1 on our own motion, we ordered the case transferred to this court pursuant to California Rules of Court rule 8.1002(3).2 We ordered defendant and the People to file briefs addressing the two following questions: (1) Whether the superior court opinion properly used the term “suitability” in relation to Penal Code section 1001.80; and (2) whether the MOU referenced in the opinion relates to eligibility for military diversion under Penal Code section 1001.80, or whether it relates only to military treatment under Penal Code section 1170.9.

Defendant contends in his opening brief that (1) the appellate division of the Riverside County Superior Court (Appellate Division) properly used the term “suitability” based on the findings in Wade v. Superior Court (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 694 (Wade) and this court should clarify that “suitability” should only “turn on . . . whether the defendant is willing to engage in that treatment, consistent with the statute’s rehabilitative purpose”; (2) the MOU applies to both Penal Code sections 1001.80 and 1170.9 but cannot be used to impose additional disqualifying criteria beyond the plain text and intent of those statutes; and (3) the trial court’s reliance on the MOU to deny relief on grounds not found in the statute was improper under Wade and must be

1 The Appellate Division, pursuant to California Rules of Court rule 8.887(c)(2)(B), notified this court that their decision had been certified for publication in the Official Reports requiring this court to consider whether to transfer the case. As such, the Appellate Division decision was not published.

2 California Rules of Court rule 8.1002 provides “A Court of Appeal may order a case transferred to it for hearing and decision if it determines that transfer is necessary to secure uniformity of decision or to settle an important question of law.”

rejected. In response, the People agree that the Appellate Division of the superior court properly used the term suitability despite it not being a term in Penal Code section 1001.80 and the court can consider any suitability factor as long as it is consistent with the principles and purpose of the governing law. The People disagree with defendant’s narrow view of suitability that it only consider the individual’s capacity to engage in, comply with and benefit from treatment. The People also agree with defendant that the MOU applies to both Penal Code sections 1001.80 and 1170.9, but that the one-year service requirement does not override the statutory authority.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Defendant was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence pursuant to Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivisions (a) and (b), which he committed on August 12, 2023.3 He entered a not-guilty plea and requested to be placed on military diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.80. He provided proof that he served five months of active service in the United States Marine Corps and counsel for defendant represented defendant served several years in the reserves.

A hearing on the pretrial diversion was held on September 10, 2024. Counsel for defendant stated that defendant had served six months at boot camp, and then went into the reserves, where he spent six years. He was eligible for diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.80 Counsel for the People stated that “he’s supposed to be active for a year.” He only had served for six months. The trial court noted it had looked at the

3 There were additional allegations that he was driving at an excessive speed (Veh. Code, § 23582, subd. (a)) and refused a chemical test (Veh. Code, § 23578).

document submitted showing defendant’s military service. The trial court confirmed that defendant had been driving in excess of 100 miles per hour, he had a blood alcohol level of .19, and he had no priors. Defendant’s counsel argued, “[I]n this particular situation, as far as the Code saying that he has to have a year in there of active service, I don’t believe that’s actually in the military diversion provisions.”

The trial court then stated the following: “Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 1001.80—this is from the memorandum of understanding from Riverside County Veteran Treatment Court, Standard 1102 in regard to military diversion. [¶] Potential candidates for military diversion must be charged with a misdemeanor offense and, . . . must meet the following requirements: [¶] One, be a current or former member of the United States military. [¶] Two, may be suffering from military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress order, substance abuse or mental health problems as a result of his or her military services.” Based on the criteria, the trial court found defendant “not eligible pursuant to the statute and pursuant to the Riverside County memorandum of understanding.” Counsel for defendant noted that the criteria did not specifically refer to one year of service. Such requirement was not in the initial statute. Further, the MOU could not be more restrictive than the actual statute. The statute was broad and allowed for diversion for service in the military. Counsel asked the trial court to reconsider its decision because it was not based on the law.

The trial court responded, “The Court at this time will make a finding that five months is not sufficient military service for purposes of the legislature’s intent under Penal Code Section 1001.80.” Counsel for defendant was afforded an opportunity to file evidence that defendant had served in the reserves.

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Angulo v. Super. Ct., (Cal. Ct. App. 2025).

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